Ironing machine



H. A. SPERLICH IRONING MACHINE Augrll, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

H ERMA" A.

SPERUCH w? ATTORNEY S Aug. 11, 1953 H. A. SPERLICH 2,648,147

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERMAN A. SPERLICH BY ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1953 H. SPERLICH IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24, 1948 INVENTOR. HERMAN A. SPERLICH ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1953 IRONING MACHINE Herman A. Sperlich, Highland Park, Mich., as-

signor to Ironrite, Inc., Mount Clemens, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 24, 1948, Serial No. 40,451

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to ironing machines and more specifically to emergency release means therefor.

In ironing machines, the usual construction involves a roll and an ironing element or shoe at least one of which is movable toward and from the other at the will of the operator in the ordinary ironin or pressing operation. This movement is usually rather small but sufficient for the purpose. However, sometimes, due to unexpected events, such as having the operators fingers or hand drawn into the machine or other untoward happening, it becomes desirable or necessary to separate the roll and shoe quickly and more widely than the usual separation with or without stopping the roll rotation, preferably with stoppage. Since in most constructions the usual separation movement is accomplished by means of a cam and follower, and is relatively slow and limited in amount, it becomes necessary to provide other means for instantaneous and amplified movement.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention toprovide such means.

Another object is the provision of means for accomplishing such emergency separation in which the actuating elements have only a small travel so that the housing therefor requires little or no enlargement.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end view of an ironing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism operating the roll with parts in section and parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view as if on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the several positions assumed by the several parts of the machine.

An ironing machine in which the present invention may be embodied is shown in Fig. l to consist of a suitable support A upon which is mounted a U-shaped frame B, upon one leg Bl of which is mounted an ironing shoe C and within the other le B2 of which is enclosed the mechanism for operating a roll D.

The roll D is carried upon a yoke consisting of av tube DI (Fig. 4), extending through leg B2 parallel to shoe C, and arms D2 and D3 (Fig. 4),

the former D2 enclosing a chain. drive (not shown) for rotating the roll D.

The mechanism enclosed in leg B2 includes both the means for rotating the roll D and means for moving the roll toward and from the shoe C, such mechanism being controlled by the operator who sits in front of the machine, i. e., as if at the right of Fig. 1. This control for the usual ironin operations is accomplished by means of knee operated levers (not shown) The roll operating mechanism, except for the improvements about to be described, is disclosed and claimed in Reissue Patent No. 19,429, dated January 15, 1935, of original Patent No. 1,848,499, of March 8, 1932, and includes a shaft I0 upon which is fixed a cam or eccentric ll upon the periphery of which rides a follower roller [2, the movement of which provides the up and down movement of an arm l5 which is fixed to the tube DI of the roll carrying yoke, and thereby the lowering and raising of the roll D. The actual raising of the roll D, as the roller l2 follows the cam H to the low side is accomplished by a strong spring l6 attached to the outer end of the arm assembly and anchored to a suitable fixed portion of the machine.

As shown, the roller I2 is not carried directly upon arm l5 but is mounted in an extension member which is oscillatably mounted on the outward end portion of said arm and which comprises a. pair of transversely spaced plates 20, 20A that are rigidly connected together by the studs or rivets 20C and 20E, and carry the pin members 20B and 20D.

The member 2013 serves as a shaft for the roller [2 and projects beyond plate 20 for a purpose to be described.

The member 200 is a spacer rivet.

The member 20D acts as a pivot passing through the free end of arm [5 and also projecting from the plate 20.

The member 20E is a spacing rivet which projects through plate 20' and serves as a means to which the spring I 6 may be fixed.

The plates 20-20A are so formed and the members 20B and 20D so located in the plates that the normal position of said plates relative to the arm l5 (shown in Figs. Sand 4) the line of contact between the ,cam ligand the follower roller [2 will be slightly forward, i. e., toward the front of the machine, of a dead-center line drawn through the centers or axes of member 20D and, shaft Ill and the rivet member 20C is engaged with the toe I5A of said arm. Consequently, in normal operation, the assembly of arm l5 and plates Zll-ZUA operate as a rigid unit for, since the spring attachment is well to the rear of the plates, the spring tends to maintain the ports in the relative positions shown. However, means is provided for overthrowing this relation and permitting the spring IE to elevate the roll a considerable distance notwithstanding the action of the cam ll tending to depress the roll, when desired in the case of an emergency or otherwise.

This means consists of a lever 30 fixed to the end of a short shaft 30A mounted in a wall of housing B2 and carrying at its inner end a V-shaped member 3|, one arm of which 3 IA carries a laterally extending ear 3IC adapted to strike the plate 20A when the shaft 30A is rotated and to force this plate and, of course, the parts attached, including roller 12, backward (that is, toward the left, looking at Fig. 3) and move the axis of roller l2 beyond the line between the centers of shaft l and member 20D. As soon as the roller passes this line, the spring l5 acts immediately to force the roller l2 down the rearward face of the cam H, the plates -20A carrying with them the end of arm [5.

The other arm 3IB of the V-member 3| is for the purpose of restoring the parts to the normal position. This arm 3IB, when shaft A is rotated in a forward direction, acts against the projecting end of member 20D.

In Fig. 2, there is shown at a slip ring or clutch collar mounted on shaft ID. This ring is splined on the shaft and is a part of a clutch (not shown) forming part of the rotating mechanism for roll D. When the ring 35 is moved toward the left in this figure, the clutch is disengaged and the roll becomes stationary.

In the normal operation of the machine, when the roll D is lowered against the shoe C, the mechanism automatically moves the ring 35 to clutch engaging position and the roll D rotates. However, as it is desired to stop this rotation immediately in case of emergency, means is provided for moving the ring 35 to clutch disengaging position whenever the lever 30 is manipulated to shift the plates 20, 20A relative to the arm [5.

A suitable operator actuated member is connected to the rod 36 which carries at its upper end a plate 31 through which projects one end a of a lever 38 fulcrummed at 38A upon a suitable stationary member 380. The other end 38B of lever 38 coacts with ring 35 to move it to clutch engaged or clutch disengaged position.

The plate 31 is also provided with a laterally extending flange portion 31A arranged in the path of the projecting end of member 2013 which in normal operation depresses the plate 31 whenever the roll D is lifted by the spring l5, and thereby causes the movement of the ring 35 to clutch disengaged position.

In the mechanism shown in Re. 19,429 the flange portion 31A of plate 31 is shown as relatively short but in the present mechanism, this portion 31A is extended backward and downward as shown in Fig. 3 so that when the lever 30 is moved to disturb the normal arrangement of the parts, the portion 31A will be in the path of the end of member 2013 and therefore cause disengagement of the driving mechanism for the roll D.

As stated above, in the normal operation of the ironing machine, the arm l5 and plate assembly will maintain the relationship shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and the movement of the roll D will be determined by the throw of cam H. When, however, the lever 30 is moved backward by the operator, the normal relationship is disturbed with the roll I2 passing down the rear face of cam II and allowing the arm I5 to move downward much greater distance than normal, and therefore the increased lifting of roll D. At the same time the plate 31 is pushed downward and the roll driving clutch is disengaged.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated diagrammatically several positions assumed by certain of the elements during the operation of the machine. For example, the position K of the roll, plates 20, cam follower l2, and spring I6 is that assumed when the roll is down on the shoe and ironing is proceeding normally.

The position L is that assumed when the roll is lifted during normal ironing procedure. The position M is that assumed when the emergency lift is required.

From this diagram it will be seen that in the emergency lifting of the roll, the spring l5, while serving to provide the force for lifting the roll, is actually lengthened, due to the action of the cam ll forcing the cam follower backward, i. e. toward the left in Fig. 5.

I claim:

1. In an ironing machine having a pair of 00- operating ironing elements one of which is mounted for movement to and from the other, the combination therewith of an arm rigidly connected with the movable element, said arm having an extension member oscillatably mounted thereon; a cam follower carried by said extension member; a rotatable cam acting upon said follower to positively move said movable ironing element into operative relation to its companion ironing element; spring means acting upon said extension member and arm to constantly tend to separate said ironin elements, said spring means also acting upon the extension member to normally bias it to a position relative to the arm in which the line of contact between the cam follower and the cam is disposed beyond the dead-center line between the axis of oscillation of the extension member and the axis of rotation of the cam, whereby the cam may counteract the tendency of the spring means to separate the ironing elements; and means volitionally engageable with said extension member to shift it relative to the arm against the biasing action of the spring means and thus move said line of contact between the cam and follower to the other side of said deadcenter line, whereby the spring means may move said arm irrespective of the cam and quickly separate the ironing elements in case of emergency.

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of a fixed ironing shoe; an ironing roll oscillatably mounted in co-operative relation to said shoe; means for imparting oscillations of normally uniform amplitude to said roll toward and from the shoe, comprising an arm rigidly connected to the roll, a spring acting on said arm to constantly tend to move the roll away from the shoe, and a rotatable cam acting on said arm to positively move the roll toward the shoe; means for securing increased amplitude of movement of the roll away from the shoe in case of emergency, comprising an extension member pivotally mounted on said arm and carrying a cam follower engaging said cam, said spring means being attached to said extension member eccentrically of the pivot thereof whereby to bias such member to normally maintain the line of contact between the cam and its follower in substantial alinement with the axis of the extension member pivot and the axis of rotation of the cam, and means for volitionally shifting said extension member about its pivot against the biasing action of the spring to destroy such alinement, whereby the spring may then cause movement of the roll away from the shoe of greater amplitude than normally permitted by the cam.

3. In an ironing machine having a pair of ironing elements one of which is mounted for movement toward and from the other, the combination of an arm rigidly connected to the movable element; means for positively actuating said arm, comprising a rotatable cam and a cam follower engaging therewith; a pair of generally triangular plates disposed one to each side of the free end of said arm and pivotally connected thereto to constitute an oscillatable extension of the arm, the pivot being at approximately one apex of the plates and said cam follower being carried by the plates at approximately a second apex thereof; a spring attached to said plates at approximately the third apex thereof and biasing the plates and follower toward the cam; means carried by the plates and engageable with a portion of the arm for limiting the spring-induced biasing movement of the plates about their pivot; and manually operable means engageable with the plates to swing them about their pivot against the action of the spring.

4. In an ironing machine having a pair of cooperating ironing elements one of which is mounted for movement toward and from the other, the combination of an arm rigidly connected with the movable element, said arm having an extension member oscillatably mounted thereon; a cam follower carried by said extension member; a rotatable cam engaging said follower and operable to positively move said movable ironing element into operative relation to its companion element; a spring connected to said extension member and acting through said arm to constantly tend to retract the movable iroining element from the other element, said spring also acting upon the extension member to normally bias it upon the arm; interengageable stop means on the extension member and arm respectively for limiting the biasing movement of such member to a point at which the line of contact between the cam and the cam follower is disposed slightly beyond the dead-center line between the axis of oscillation of the extension member and the axis of rotation of the cam, whereby the cam may counteract the tendency of the spring to separate the ironing elements; and a V-shaped member oscillatably mounted adjacent the extension member, one arm of said V-shaped member being manually engageable with the extension member to shift the latter against the biasing action of the spring and thus displace said line of contact between the cam and follower to the other side of said dead-center line whereby the spring may move the arm irrespective of the cam and quickly separate the ironin elements in case of emergency, and the other arm of said V-shaped member being alternatively engageable with the extension member to restore such member to its normal biased position on the arm.

HERMAN A. SPERLICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

